World debut for Toyota’s all-new Proace LCV at Birmingham CV Show this month

An all-new Toyota Proace Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) range will make its world debut at the 2016 Birmingham Commercial Vehicle Show (April 26-28). 

With predicted sales of 2.2 million units in 2016, the LCV market in Europe has shown a strong recovery in the last few years, with an increase of over 12% in 2015. About 28% of the LCV market (some 640,000 units) is accounted for by Medium Duty Van (MDV) sales. The MDV market itself comprises several sub-segments, such as Van, Combi and Platform Cab in Europe. Until now, the previous Proace did not fully covering all MDV sub-segments.

The new, 2016 Proace van model range has a wider choice of vehicles. Available in two grades with a choice of three body sizes and two wheelbase lengths, the new Proace van model range increases the company's overall coverage of the European LCV market.

The Proace Van Compact is 4.6 metres long and with a 2.9 metre wheelbase, it is the shortest vehicle in the MDV segment yet, creating a new standard in the segment. Due to the smart packaging, it offers the footprint of a CDV Large with the cargo capacity of a MDV. It features three front cabin seats and has a cargo bay 2.1 metres long and 1.6 metres wide, for a total cargo volume of 4.6 cubic metres. It also includes an up to 9-seat Combi, a Crew Cab and a Platform Cab ready for conversions (available from the first quarter of 2017) which allow the new Proace to cover 100% of the MDV market.

The Proace has five diesel powertrains varying in output from 95 to 180 DIN hp. Mated to a choice of manual, robotised manual and automatic transmissions, they target best-in-class CO₂ emissions in the MDV segment.

The specification levels across the grade structure include motorised right and left hand sliding side doors, automatic transmissions, three front seats in even the Proace Compact, and a new Smart Cargo system which combines an opening bulkhead with a lifting front passenger seat base to maximise load length by 1.16 metres and overall loading capacity by 0.5 m³.